Electric fixture



June 23, 1942. 'P. D. PHILLIPS 2,287,564

ELECTRIC FIXTURE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l n? l 3 Z E 4ELECTRIC FIXTURE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 23, 1942. P.D. PHiLLIPS 2,287,564

ELECTRIC FIXTURE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 I s "Sheets-Sheet s Patented June23, 1942 ELECTRIC FIXTURE Paul D. Phillips, Elmhurs jamin Electric Mfg.Company, Des Plaines, 111., a corporation of Illinois 1 t, 111.,"assignor to Ben- Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,651 19Claims. (01.173-358) This invention relates to electric fixtures andmore particularly tosockets for use with various types of fixtures,especially where the fixtures are supported by a conduit or othersuitable connection through which the conductor wires extend to thesocket and to which the fixture may be directly attached. Thisapplication is a continuation in part of my copending application SerialNo. 205,167, filed April 30, 1938.

In the drawings the socket is shown in connection with an ordinaryso-called dome reflector, the reflector portion being broken away as thespecific details of the reflector form no part of the present invention.

In the installation of fixtures such as so-called socket-reflectorunits, it is sometimes not possible to raise the enclosing reflector orto otherwise expose the socket for access to binder screws or wiringterminals. It is, therefore. necessary to attach and secure the feedwires to the socket terminals with the socket closelysurrounded by theenclosing walls of the dome or hood of the Heretofore, two-part socketshave been constructed to enable removal of the lower element to provideaccess to the terminals. In such sockets the terminal screws are locatedon the upper element with their axes parallel to the lamp axis and areexposed for easy access when the lower element is removed. The centercontact 'is secured to the upper base, and the shell contact ispermanently secured to the lower base, and a separable connector betweenthe shell and one of the terminals on the upper base is provided so thatthe lower base may be removed by loosening the supporting screws. Whenthe lower element is removed, the entire lower face of the upper elementis exposed and the terminal screws are readily accessible for wireattachment.

Such a construction has many disadvantages in that a large number ofparts are required and each base requires separate assembly.Furthermore, such a construction requires the use of a screw driver inremoving the lower element to provide access to the wiring terminals.The separable connection between the shell contact and its terminal isunsatisfactory, particularly where corrosive atmospheric conditionsoccur or where metal dusts maybe excessive. Such conditions oftenseriously decrease the effective contact between the connector contactsand result in heating and final burning out by arcing.

The present invention is an improvement over such structures, and it isan object to provide a device for use with a deeply recessed fixture orreflector in which the fixture may be rotated about a supporting stemhaving feed wires extending therefrom without dangerously twisting thewires or damaging the insulation, and wherein the terminal screws areaccessible for attachment of the wires by the removal of a one-piececover, which may readily be removed and replaced without the use oftools. Another object of theinvention is the provision of a device ofthe character described, in which the socket is of comparatively fewparts and may comprise only two main elements, on one of which all ofthe conducting and supporting parts are assembled, the other elementbeing merely an insulating cover for the conducting elements on the mainbase. l

A further object is the provision of a fixture having a socket of thecharacter dcscribed in which the wires protrudingfrom the fixturesupport may extend through thesocket adjacent the axis-whereby thedevice may be rotated without twisting the wires andwherein the shellcontact is so constructed that the feed wires may be readily connectedto the terminal screws which may be located outside'the diameter of theshell.

A further object is the provision of a split shell affording easy accessto the binding terminals and including an efficient lamp grip which notonly retains the lamp snugly in the socket, but also serves as a rubbingelement to clean the lamp base surface and improve the electricalcontact over a wide area. The lamp grip provides a brake shoe actionwhich is effective throughout a considerable portion of the lampremoving process and not merely for a few degrees of the backing offrotation.

A further object is the provision of a socket having a one-piece coverwhich may be threaded onto the main'base and be retained by the combinedresilient and frictional'action of the cooperating parts and which maybe removed or attached by hand without the use of tools.

Another object is the provision of a socket of the characterdescribed inwhich, during wiring, the wires are automaticallyguided to a positionoutside a closed ring shell contact where they may convenientlybesecured to the terminals. Still another object is to provide a socketbase of the character described having a flanged closed ring shellcontact of thin resilient material permanently secured thereto, the edgeof the socket flange being adapted to retain an internally threadedremovable socket cover thereon, one portion of said flange beingreinforced to provide a rigid starting edge for engaging in the threadsof the cover and to prevent distortion of the flange and another portionof said flange being free to flex and being formed to resiliently andfrictionally engage the cover threads to retain the cover againstdisplacement.

It is also an object to provide a device of the character describedwhich will be of few parts, easy to assemble, cheap to manufacture, andwhich will not easily get out of order.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical side elevation partially in section of a completelyassembled socket and hood reflector secured to a suitable support suchas the usual conduit and illustrates one embodi-- ment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the socket with the supporting screws shown insection on a line sub stantially corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the socket taken on a line substantiallycorresponding to line of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the socket and taken ona line substantially corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and line l4 ofFig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, withcover partly broken away.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the shell contact and lamp gripassociated therewith.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrates a slightlydifferent form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on a line substantially correspondingto line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an inverted perspective view of the socket shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the shell contact.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the reinforcing element for the socketflange.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the embodiment illustrated in Figs.1 to 6, inclusive,

may comprise the usual reflector having a sheet metal hood I provided atits upper end with an inturned flange 2. This reflector is supported ona suitable threaded conduit 3 by means of a coupling member A, whichlatter is preferably internally and externally threaded as shown andprovided with an outwardly extending flange 5 to support the reflector.The reflector flange 2 is preferably provided with a hexagonal openingto seat a corresponding hexagonal shoulder 6 on the coupling 4 so thatrotation of the reflector will cause a corresponding rotation of thecoupling whereby the entire fixture may be threaded onto the conduit 3.Gaskets l and are provided, one on each side of the flange 2, and a nut9 is threaded onto the coupling member 4 as illustrated and is providedwith an out wardl extending flange l9; whereby the flange 2 of the hoodmay be clamped securely between the members 4 and 9. It will be apparentthat b this construction the fixture may be threaded onto or removedfrom the conduit 3 by rotation of the entire device.

A socket H is provided and comprises a base l2 having a depending skirtportion in the form of a segmental flange [3 which is reduced indiameter as shown in the sectional views, and this skirt portion isprovided with an axial opening is to receive a shell contact l5. Theshell contact is provided with an outwardly extending flange l5 which issecured against the outer end of the skirt by means of screws l1 and Nawhereby the shell is supported. The outer edge of the shell flange I6 issomewhat larger in diameter than the segmental flange on the base and isangularly formed at 18, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, to provide athread to receive an internally threaded cover l9 of insulating materialwhich is provided with a central opening 20 and which, with the base [2,forms a complete insulating enclosure for the conducting portions of thesocket. A material portion of the skirt [3 is cut away on one side, asshown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, to provide access to the wiringterminals, and the threaded shell is split completely through on thesame side as shown at 2! so that the conductor wires may be passedtherethrough and secured to the terminals. In other words, the segmentalskirt and segmental shell contact and flange enable the workman to bendthe conductors through the open side and secure them to the'terminals onthe lower face of the base. The flange it of the threaded shell is alsocut away on one side, as illustrated in Fig. 6, to correspond with theskirt portion [3 of the base so that the binding screws of the terminalsmay easily be accessible with a screw driver.

The shell l5 and flange it are preferably made of resilient sheet metalso that, when the cover i9 is screwed thereon, the friction between thecontacting surfaces of the base and the cover is greatly increased andprovides an. impositive frictional lock against loosening of the cover.

The base I2 is provided with a passage 22 therethrough, through whichthe conductors may extend for attachment to the binding terminals. Thepassage 22 communicates with the shell chamber i l so that theconductors may be extended through the socket and then bent laterallythrough the slot 2! of the shell for attachment to the terminals.

A center contact 23 which may be of the usual spring type is secured ina depression 24 by means of a screw 25 threaded into a terminal plate26, which latter is provided with a binding screw 21 by means of whichone of the conductors 28 and 29 may be secured.

The shell terminal comprises a conducting link 39 (Figs. 2 and 3)positioned in a depression in the upper side of the base and retained bymeans of the shell supporting screw ii. A binding screw Ell is seated ina depression 32 in the face of the base and is threaded into the link39. The slot 2| in the threaded shell permits the conductor 29 to bebent laterally and secured to the binding screw 3d. The socket may besecured to the coupling member 5 by means of suitable screws 33. Thismay be done before or after the reflector is mounted on the conduit 3.

The device preferably is first completely assembled as illustrated inFig. 1 and is then threaded onto the conduit 3 with the conductors and29 extending downward through the passage 22 and through the threadedshell. After the fixture is in place, the conductors may be bentlaterally as shown in Fig. 4 and secured to the appropriate bindingterminals. By means of this construction the completely assembled devicemay be freely rotated for threading onto the conduit 3 without twistingthe conductors 2S and 29 which are extending through the socket. Afterthe conductors are secured in position, the insulating cover l9 may bethreaded securely onto the shell flange 8 as shown.

An efficient lamp grip is provided and comprises a ring-like spring wiremember 33a which is slightly smaller in diameter than the shell l5. Thisforms a split ring having a laterally extending end portion 34 which maybe engaged in a longitudinal slot 35 in the base l2, thereby providingagainst rotation of the spring member 33a. The ring snugly engages theshell adjacent its upper end and is seated in an outer thread of theshell adjacent the free end. The shell is slotted at 36 (Fig. 6) toprovide a comparatively wide tongue portion 31, which latter is normallypressed inwardly by the free end of the spring member 3311.

The lamp grip is very effective as it is located well above the entranceend of the threaded shell I5, and the lamp, when entering, engages morethan a complete turn of the shell thread before the lamp grip or so-called brake shoe begins to take effect. The grip tongue is so designedthat its free end is opposite the first engagement point with the lampentering and, therefore, the frictional effect with the lamp base isexceptionally smooth and free from chatter.

The brake shoe or tongue 31 is an integral part of the resilientthreaded shell, and its frictional action with the lamp base isintensified by the reinforcing spring member 33a, which not only Iincreases the contact pressure with the lamp base, but also causes arubbing action to clean the lamp base surface over a wide area andimprove the electrical contact. The brake shoe action is eifectivethrough a considerable portion of the lamp removal and preferably notmerely for a few degrees of the back ofi rotation.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. '7 to 12, inclusive, comprises aninsulating base 38 which is very similar to the base I2 previouslydescribed, with the exception that the wiring passage through the baseis constructed in a manner to normally direct the wires between the baseand the shell contact and toward the binding screws. The base 38 isprovided with a depending skirt portion which is preferably in the formof a segmental flange 39 and reduced in diameter as illustrated. Theskirt provides an axial chamber 40 to receive a shell contact 4|.

The inner end of the shell contact 41 is spaced from the bottom of thechamber 40, and the outer end of the shell is provided with a laterallyextending flange 42 which is secured against the outer face of the skirt39 by means of screws 43 and 43a extending through the base and skirtthereon, whereby the shell is rigidly supported. The shell flange 42 issomewhat larger in diameter than the skirt 39 so that the outer edge ofthe flange may provide the equivalent of a thread to receive aninternally threaded cover 44. The cover 44 is of insulating material andprovided with an entrance opening 45 in axial alignment with the shell.

The shell contact is very similar to that previously described, exceptthat it may be completely annular, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and theinner end of the threaded portion is cut away at 46 to provide clearancefor the wires extending to the binding terminals. The shell contact mayalso be slotted at 41 to provide a lamp grip tongue 48, and a ring-likereinforcing spring 49 may be mounted in the threads to retain the tonguein frictional relation with a lamp base.

The flange 42 is cut away on one side, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, tocorrespond with the cutout of the skirt 39, so that the binding screwsof the terminals on the base may easily be accessible with a screwdriver from the face of the socket. The leading edge or corner 49 (Fig.10) of the flange is clampedto the face of the skirt by means of abinding terminal 50, into which the screw 43 is threaded. The oppositeside of the flange is secured to the face of the skirt by means of screw43a and a lock nut 431) having a depressed lug 430 for entering acomplementary hole in the flange 42.

A reinforcing element 5| is positioned between the terminal 50 and theflange to provide a rigid leading edge of the flange for entering thethreads in the cover. The opposite or following edge of the flange isformed downwardly at 52 so that the edge of the flange forms theequivalent of a thread, and the main portion of the flange issuificiently resilient to provide a frictional engagement in thethreads, particularly when the cover is clamped against the shoulder ofthe base, so that the base is thereby releasably retained againstdisplacement.

The skirt 39 is cut away on opposite sides, as illustrated at 53, toprovide shoulders for mounting screws 54 which extend through the basefor securing the socket to the reflector coupling 4 (Fig. l) in the samemanner as previously described. The shell flange 42 is provided withopenings 55, so that the screws 54 are accessible therethrough from theface of the socket when the cover 4| is removed. The terminal 50 extendsinwardly to the main portion of the base, as shown, and is provided witha binding screw 56 located outside the diameter of the shell contact.

A center contact 51 is secured to the base by means of a screw 58threaded into a terminal plate 59, which supports a binding screw 60.The binding screws 56 and 69 are both positioned outside the diameter ofthe shell and are, therefore, accessible through the cut-away opening inthe shell flange from the face of the socket. The base is provided witha wiring passage 6! therethrough which terminates in 'an opening 62positioned between the binding screws 56 and 60 and partially within thediameter of the threaded shell. The terminal opening 62 is at one sideof the shell chamber 40, and the walls of the passage ii! are somewhatfunnel-shaped; that is, they are angularly formed around the axis of thesocket in a. manner to normally direct conductor wires inserted thereinfrom the axis of the socket toward the binding screws and between theshell contact and the base, substantially as shown by the dotted line inFig. 9.

The base is provided with a shoulder 62a (Fig. 10) which co-operateswith the skirt 39 for retaining the cover 44 in alignment when it isscrewed onto the flange 42. The threaded shell contact is preferablyprovided with an annular rib 63 to provide a rigid entrance opening tothe threaded portion of the shell while permitting the main portion ofthe flange to be sufliciently flexible to frictionally retain the coveragainst displacement.

It is intended, of course, that the invention should not be limited tothe specific embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein, sincemodifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by theappended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. A socket comprising an insulating base having an axial lamp-basechamb'ertherein, a split ring contact supported on said base andconstructed to retain a lamp inserted in saidchamber, said base having aside opening to said chamber corresponding to the split side of saidring, a center contact in said chamber, and wiring terminalsintermediate the ends of said base and accessible through said sideopening, said base having alongitudinal passage to enable Wires toextend therethrough and into said chamber and inside said ring, saidsplit ring being positioned relative to the side opening of said base toen able said wires to be bent laterally therethrough and into said sideopening, said side opening providing access to said terminals forsecuring the Wires thereto.

2. A socket comprising an insulating base having an axial lainp-basechamber therein, a split ring contact supported on said base con--structed to retain a lamp inserted in said chamber, said base having aside opening to said chamber corresponding to the split side of saidring, a center contact in said chamber, wiring tar-mi nals intermediatethe ends of said base and accessible through said side opening, saidbase having a longitudinal passage to enable wires to extendtherethrough and into said chamber and inside said ring, said split ringbeing positioned relative to the side opening of said base to enablesaid Wires to be bent laterally therethrough and into said side opening,said side opening providing access to said terminals for securing theWires thereto, and an insulating cover removably mounted on said baseand having an opening to enable a lamp to be inserted in said splitring.

3. A socket comprising an insulating base having an axial lamp-basechamber therein, a split ring contact supported on said base andconstructed to retain a lamp inserted in said chamber, said base havinga side opening to said cham ber corresponding to the split side of saidring, a center contact in said chamber, Wiring termi na ls intermediatethe ends of said base and accessible through said side opening, saidbase having a longitudinal passage to enable Wires to extendtherethrough and into said chamber, said split ring being positioned toenable said wires to be bent laterally therethrough and into said sideopening and permitting access to said terminals for securing the wiresthereto, and a removable cup-like insulating cover in threadedengagement with said ring and having an open ing to enable a lamp to beinserted in said ring.

e. A socket comprising an insulating base hav ing a longitudinal passagetherethrough, a center contact and a shell contact supported thereon inlongitudinally spaced relation, wiring terminals on said base andsubstantially outside the diameter of said shell, said shell contactbeing in the form of a split ring whereby conductors extending throughsaid passage may be bent laterally through the split in said shellcontact and secured to said terminals, an insulating cover removablyengaging sa 5. A socket compr ing a lamp-base chan er open on one sideprovide a terminal space outside said cha substantially ilush with thebottom there-oi, base h 'ng a passage therethrough C0121 municating withsaid chamber, wiring terminals in said side said chamber, s it shellcontact in said chamber, split being constructed and positioned toenable wires eX- tending through said passage to be bent laterally litthrough said shell to said terminals, said open side 'of said baseproviding access to said terminals for Wiring. 7

6. A socket comprising an insulating base having a downwardly-extendingsegmental flange forming an axial lamp-receiving chamber and aperipheral shoulder, said base'having'a wire passage therethroughcommunicating with said chamber, a center contact and a shell contact insaid chamber, wiring terminals on said base between the ends of saidsegmental flange, said shell contact having a side opening therethroughto enable conductors extending through said wire passage to be bentlaterally to said terminals, an internally threaded cover, and resilientmeans on said base for threaded engagement with said cover to retainsaid cover in frictional engagement with said shoulder. i

'7. A socket comprising an insulating base having a downwardly-extendingsegmental flange forming an axial lamp-receiving chamber and aperipheral shoulder, said base having a wire passage therethroughcommunicating with said chamber, a center contact and a shell contact insaid chamber, wiring terminals on said base between the ends of saidsegmental flange, said shell contact being of resilient sheet metal andhaving an outwardly extending flange secured against the face of saidsegmental flange, the periphery of said flange having helical cover-engaing portions, said shell and flange having a side opening to enableconductors from said wire passage to be bent laterally therethrough tosaid terminals'and' tofenable Wiring access to said terminals from theface of said socket, and an internally threaded insulating coversupported on s flange in" resilient frictional engagement v th saidshoulder.

"8. A socket comprising an insulating base having an axiallamp-receiving chamber, a center contact, and a threaded shell contactin said chamber, said shell contact having a longitudinal side Wallopening therethrough, an integral tongue in the plane of the threadsforming a spring cantilever gripping member extending circumferentiallyfrom its fixed end and having its free end radially movable and having aplurality of threads adjacent the inner end of said shell andterminating adjacent said side wall opening, and a resilient split ringembracing said shell contact and having one end engaging in an outerthread of said tongue and coextensive therewith to exert resilientpressure against a lamp base inserted therein.

9.1A lamp socket comprising an insulating base having a lamp-receivingchamber and a longitudinal passage communicating therewith, one sidewall of said chamber being cut away to provide a lateral surface forWiring terminals, a center contact, a threaded shell contact in saidchamber and terminating remote from said surface, wiring terminals onsaid surface, said shell having a lateral flange overhanging the outerface of said base 'andsecured thereto and having its periphery shapedfor threaded engagement with cover, said shell and flange being open onthe nde adjacent s id terminals to provide iereto and to enable wiresfrom said pase to be bent laterally therethrough to said terminals, saidshell being slotted adjacent the open side to provide a tongueconforming to part of the threads remote from the entrance end of saidshell, a resilient split Wire ring embracing said shell'and havingon'eend tending toforce said tongue inwardly and the opposite end engagingsaid base to prevent rotation, and an in-- sulating cover in threadedengagement with said flange.

10. In a fixture of the character described, the combination with acup-like socket housing, of a socket secured in said housing wherebysubstantially only the front of said socket is accessible, said socketcomprising an insulating base, a split shell contact supported on saidbase, wiring terminals substantially outside the diameter of said shellcontact, said base having a conductor passage therein within thediameter of said shell contact, said terminals being accessible throughthe open end of said housing whereby conductors extending through saidsocket may be bent laterally through the split in said contact andsecured to said terminals.

11. A fixture comprising a housing, a socket substantially closelyenclosed in said housing and having the lamp receiving end of saidsocket accessible, said socket comprising a terminal supporting base ofinsulating material secured to the inner Wall of said housing, a centercontact and a shell contact on the exposed face of said base, wiringterminals on said base substantially outside said shell contact, saidhousing having an opening therethrough for conductor wires, said basehaving a longitudinal passage therethrough communicating with saidhousing opening and with the face of said socket within the diameter ofsaid shell contact, said shell contact being split on one side to enablethe ends of said conductors extending through said socket to be bentlaterally therethrough and secured to said terminals.

12. An electrical receptacle comprising an insulating base, shell andcenter contacts and binding screws electrically connected with saidcontacts all mounted on said insulating base, said base having anarcuate portion partially surrounding and housing said shell contact andhaving an open side to provide clearance for the location of saidbinding screws, said shell contact having an outwardly-extending flangeat its outer end secured to and overlying said arcuate base portion, andan attachable anddetachable cup-like cover member surrounding said shellcontact and arcuate base portion, covering said flange and having anentrance opening in registration with the entrance opening in said shellcontact, the axis of both binding screws being outside the cylindricalsurface containing the shell contact and exposed by removal of the coverfor operation by a screw driver.

13. An electrical receptacle comprising an insulating base, shell andcenter contacts and binding screws electrically connected with saidcontacts all mounted on said insulating base, said base having anarcuate portion partially surrounding and housing said shell contact andhaving an open side to provide clearance for the location of saidbinding screws, said shell contact having an outwardly-extending flangeat its outer end secured to and overlying said arcuate base portion, andan attachable and detachable cuplike cover member surrounding said shellcontact and arcuate base portion, covering said flange and having anentrance opening in registration with the entrance opening in said shellcontact, the axis of both binding screws being outside the cylindricalsurface containing the shell contact and exposed by removal of the coverfor operation by a screw driver, a part of said shell contact adjacentthe open side of the arcuate base portion being cut away to provideclearance for the wires in installing and wiring. I

14. An electrical receptacle comprising an insulating base, shell andcenter contacts and binding screws electrically connected with saidcontacts all mounted on said insulating base, said base having anarcuate portion partially surrounding and housing said shell contact andhaving an open side to provide clearance for the location of saidbinding screws, said shell contact having an outwardly-extending flangeat its outer end secured to and overlying said arcuate base portion, andan attachable and detachable cup-like cover member surrounding saidshell contact and arcuate base portion, covering said flange and havingan entrance opening in registration with the entrance opening in saidshell contact, the axis of both binding screws being outside thecylindrical surface containing the shell contact and exposed by removalof the cover for operation by a screw driver, said cover member having ascrew-threaded engagement with said flange.

15. An electrical receptacle comprising an insualting base, shell andcenter contacts and binding screws electrically connected with said contacts all mounted on said insulating base, said base having an arcuateportion partially surrounding and housing aid shell contact and havingan open side to provide clearance for the location of said bindingscrews, said shell contact having an outwardly-extending flange at itsouter end secured to and overlying said arcuate base portion, and anattachable and detachable cup-like cover member surrounding said shellcontact and arcuate base portion, covering said flange and having anentrance opening in registration with the-entrance opening in said shellcontact, the axis of both binding screws being outside the cylindricalsurface containing the shell contact and exposed by removal of the coverfor operation by a screw driver, a part of said shell contact adjacentthe open side of the arcuate base portion being cut away to provideclearance for the wires in installing and wiring and to provide ayieldable circumferentially extending tongue for gripping engagementwith a contact member inserted in the shell contact.

16. An electrical receptacle comprising an insulating base, shell andcenter contacts, and binding screws all mounted on said base, an axiallyaligned shell contact having a laterally-extending flange at itsentrance end, shell supporting means between said flange and the mainbody of said base, means for securing said shell flange to laterallyoverhang the face of said shell supporting means, a cover threaded ontosaid flange and having an entrance opening in registration with theentrance opening of said shell, a portion of said flange being cut awayto provide access to binding screws from the face of said socket and toprovide an entrance for the threads of said cover, and means providing arigid entering edge of said flange in said threads, a following edgeportion being resilient and formed to frictionally engage in the threadsto retain said cover.

17. An electrical receptacle comprising an insulating base, shell andcenter contacts and binding screws electrically connected with saidcontacts all mounted on said insulating base, said base having a portionpartially surrounding and housing said shell contact and having an openside to provide clearance for the location of said binding screws, saidshell contact having an outwardly-extending flange secured to said shellhousing portion, and an attachable and detachable cup-like cover membersurrounding said shell contact and said housing portion and having anentrance opening in registration with the entrance opening in said shellcontact, both binding screws being outside the diameter of the shellcontact and exposed by removal of the cover for operation by a, screwdriver, said base having a passage therethrough terminating between saidbinding screws and at least partially within the diameter of said shell,the walls of said passage being disposed to direct Wires from the axisof said base to the outside of said shell and toward said bindingscrews.

18. An electrical receptacle comprising an insulating base, shell andcenter contacts and binding screws electrically connected with saidcontacts all mounted on said insulating base, said base having anarcuate portion partially surrounding and housing said shell contact andhaving an open side to provide clearance for the location of saidbinding screws, said shell contact being completely annular and havingan outwardly-extending flange secured to said arcuate base portion, andan attachable and detachable cup-like cover member surrounding saidshell contact and arcuate base portion and threaded on said flange andhaving an entrance opening in registration with the entrance opening insaid shell contact, the axis of both binding screws being outside thediameter of said shell and exposed by removal of the cover for operationby a screw driver, a part of the inner end of said shell contactadjacent the open side of the arcuate base portion being cut; away toprovide clearance for the wires in installing and Wiring, said basehaving an opening th rethrough for the wires leading to said bindingscrews, said opening being substantially funnel-shaped and havingangular side walls arranged to direct wires from the center of said baseand between the base and shell to said binding screws.

19. An electrical socket comprising an insulating body having alarge-diameter base portion with a smaller-diameter depending skirtportion forming a housing for a shell contact, the walls of said skirtbeing of suflicient thickness to enable the passage of supporting screwstherethrough and through said base portion to secure said socket to asupport, supporting screws extending through said base with their headswithin the contour of said skirt and below the face thereof, a shellcontact having a laterally-extending flange at the entrance end ofa-diameter larger than the face of said skirt and secured thereon tosupport said shell contact in spaced relation to said base portion, saidskirt and said flange being cut away to enable the mounting of bindingscrews on said base portion substantially in arcuate alignment with saidskirt, said supporting screws and said binding screws being accessiblefrom the front of said socket through the cutaway openings of saidflange, a center contact and associated binding screw on said baseportion, a shell terminal arranged to clamp a free end of said flange tothe face of said skirt and terminating in a binding screw on said baseportion, an insulating cover threaded onto'said flange and havinganentrance-opening in registration with the entrance opening of saidshell, said cover abutting said base portion, and a reinforcing plateclamped to said flange to form a rigid portion for starting engagementin the threads of said cover, the major portion of said flange beingresilient and formed to provide a frictional engagement of said coverbetween said flange and the threads of said base portion to retain saidcover against accidental displacement.

PAUL D. PHILLIPS.

